Strong start in Paris for Harris

SOUTH Africa's unseeded Lloyd Harris made a strong start to his 2021 French Open campaign with a solid 7-5 6-4 6-4 win over 26th seed and world No 28 Italy's Lorenzo Sonego in their firstround clash in Paris late on Monday afternoon.

The world No 54 Harris was up against an opponent who has been in great form of late. Last week he warmed up for the clay major by taking a set off Novak Djokovic, the world No 1. Harris, playing in his third French Open, will meet Britain's Cam Norrie in the second round on Thursday. Norrie, a lefthander, won through after defeating American qualifier Bjorn Fratangelo 7-5 7-6 6-2.

It is a match-up that promises so much for Harris because the winner of this match will advance to meet the King of Clay Rafael Nadal in the third round. Early in the first set, Harris and Sonego exchanged breaks of serve. Harris, however, secured a second break to go up 6-5 before he closed out the set 7-5 in 46 minutes. Strangely, Sonego outshone the big-serving Harris 3-1 in the ace count. In the second set which lasted 49 minutes, Harris broke in the ninth game and then held on for a 6-4 win. In the third set, Harris continued to dominate but spurned three breakpoints at 5-3. However, he completed the demolition job two games later.

Meanwhile, SA tennis fans will be keeping an eye on veteran 35-yearold Kevin Anderson, who will go up against 23-year-old Korean Kwon Soon-woo in the first round today.